Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-12-22
WAS HINGroN LETTER
[FrOm 0ur regul.r corrs.pondsal.l
WAsHINaToN, Dec. ~, lss7.

4
lFrom our regular correspondeat.l
WASHINGTON, Dec. IL, 1887.
The Democratic policy, as declared
by Speaker Carlisle and emphasized In
the excellent message of President
Cleveland, makes 1t certain that tariff
revision Is only a question of very
short time, the only doubt being as to
what methods should be employed to
effect such legislation. Mr.. Cleveland's
tariff manifesto Is evidently his most
popular and practical utterance, for II
has taken the Democratic portion ol
Congress by storm-there being but O
few dissenting voices, while it is clear
from the guarded expressions of Re
publican Congressman, that there Is
imminent danger of the disintegration
of that party, now that it is compelled
to take an unequivocal position on the
one vital issue Of the times.
Mr.. Blaine's defiant deiiverance on
the message, as flashed from France, Is
taken in the capital as virtually a per-
sonal announcement that the man
from Maine is willing to enter the lists
as the advocate of high protective
tariff against his old adversary. It is
further believed that Blaine has
shrewdly scored two important pre-
liminary victories over his Republican
competitors for the Presidential nomi-
nation-in being the first to roundly
condemn the message, and in having
the National Republican Convention
again called to meet at Chicago, the
scene of his former triumph. Sher-
mans friends favored Cincinnati, Alli-
sons Minneapolis, and Hawley's Phila-
delphia.
There was great Republican pow
WOW last week at the meeting of the
Republican National Committee in this
city, many Statesmen of national re-
nown being present, several of whom
made speeches. One admission, in
advertently made by Ex-senator Win
dom, of Minnesota, Is worth quoting.
He said: "That if the Democrats were
successful next year, the Democracy
would probably continue in power
fifteen or twenty years. Most Demo
Gratis endorse this prognostication.
Those who had expected to witness
exciting or sensational scenes at the
organization of the Fiftieth or Centen-
nial Congress, were greatly disap-
| pointed, as there was nothing unusual,
except harmless outbreak from a
religious crank in the gallery, who
aroused the risibilities Of the vast
throng by singing the doxology in a
doleful solo. In both the Senate and
House there seemed to have fallen
showers of fragrant and radiant flow
ers, fresh from rosy gardens of bloom
and beauty. 1t was a pleasant sight to
see the beaming faces of the favored
statesmen as they gratefully smiled
over the gifts If admiring friends. But
very many of the veteran Congress
men were saddened as they sought in
vain for the familiar countenances of
numbers of their late colleagues, whose
public careers had ended, at least tenn
porarily. Among the missing were 125
| from the House-two thirds of the
chairmen of committees being included
in the list. Those conspicuous for alb
sence in the House were Morrison,
Lowering, Warner, Wellborn, Bragg
and Barksdale and from the Senate,
Camden, Maxey, Malone, Conger and
"Woodpulp'' Miller.
Last week only brief sessions of Con.
gress were held, and little real work can
be done until the committees are ap.
pointed; the Senate committees will be
announced this week, but owing to the
much greater difficulty of organizing
the House Committees, it is doubtful
whether they will be announced before
the holiday season
Since last wrote you the President
has sent to the Senate the long expected
nominations for the Supreme Court
and the Cabinet and it is thought they
will be easily confirmed, though there
are rumors of opposition to Mr.. Lamar
and Mr.. Villas.
The Supreme Court rendered two i'm
portant decisions last week, reversing
| u. S. Judge Bond in the Virgins
coupon cases "a notable triumph fol
States rights, and affirming the con
stitutionality of the Kansas prohibito
Try lava great victory for the Prohi
biton party, and anything but an &C
ceptable verdict to the Republican par
lty.
Mr.. Randall Is carefully preparing {
bill of revenue reduction and tariff re
form, looking to sixty million dolla
cut in taxation-the amount to b,
about evenly divided between the tar
liffinternal taxes. 1T Is the purpose b
the Pennsylvania Statesman to offe
| this bill early in the session.